Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, affects persons of all ages, both kids and adults. Conjunctivitis is an infection of your eye's conjunctiva. It occurs when the conjunctiva, a transparent mucous membrane covering the white part of your eyeball, gets inflamed or irritated. The inflammation makes the small blood vessels in your conjunctiva more visible, making the white part of the eyeball appear pink or reddish. The infection hurts. It's also contagious and unappealing. Understanding the condition helps you prevent the spread and seek medical intervention. We at University Eye Associates serving Charlotte, NC, Davidson, NC, and Harrisburg (Rocky River), have prepared what you need to know.
What Are the Causes of Pink Eye?
There are so many things that cause eye redness and irritation. Pink eye, however, which is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, can occur due to the following reasons:
- Bacterial infections
- Viral infections
- Fungi, parasitic attack or amoeba
- Allergens like mold or pollen
Symptoms of Pink Eye
The symptoms of pink eye may vary depending on the cause. Pink eye symptoms are pretty deceptive, so if you experience the following symptoms, don't touch your eyes as you can quickly spread the infection if there is one. If these symptoms last more than two days, consider seeing an optometrist:
- Eye redness
- Burning of the eye
- Swelling of your eyes and the surrounding area
- Tingling or itching of the eye
- Watery eyes
- Swollen lymph node
- Light sensitivity or blurry vision
- Tender skin around your eyes
- Eye discharge that is yellow, green, or white
How to Treat Pink Eye?
Depending on the cause of the pink eye, your an eye doctor on our team may or may not prescribe medication. It's hard to tell the type of pink eye you may have by symptoms alone. Therefore, it can be important to visit us for proper evaluation. Some of the treatment options applied include:
- Viral conjunctivitis resolves on its own
- Anti-allergy tablets or eyedrops to resolve the allergic type
- Antibiotics ointment or eye drop for bacterial infections
How to Prevent Pink Eye?
Even if pink eye is treatable, it's better to minimize the risk of contracting it in the first place. Let's look at some of the ways to protect your eyes from pink eye:
- Regular hand-washing
- Sneezing into your arm, not your hands
- Avoid touching or rubbing eyes
- Handling contacts lenses properly
- Avoid sharing eye items like eye make-up or contact lenses
Visit Us for More Information from an Optometrist on Our Team
Pink eye is not just a red eye. If you or your loved ones suspect pink eye in (704) 547-1551 (University) Charlotte, NC, (704) 536-6042 Harrisburg (Rocky River), (704) 896-9090 Davidson, NC, and its surroundings, book an appointment with us at University Eye Associates. We can evaluate your problem and recommend personalized treatment to restore your eye health.